MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves ended their
losing streak and they didn't care who was the victim.

Kevin Garnett scored 20 points to lead seven players in double
figures as the Timberwolves snapped a season-high seven-game
slide with a 112-80 victory over the reeling Toronto Raptors,
who have lost 17 of their last 18 games.

The Timberwolves (41-26) were contending for their first
Midwest Division title before the skid, which has dumped them
in sixth place in the Western Conference. They had shot poorly
and played sloppily during the losing streak but snapped out of
it in this one, shooting 54 percent (44-of-82) from the field
and committing just 10 turnovers.

"We played with a much better rhythm -- good concentration,
good momentum, good flow," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said.
"We've had two other times this season that we've played worse
than these last two weeks. Hopefully, now we'll build off this
win for the last 15 games."

"The swagger has always been there, but it's not as noticeable
when you lose," Garnett said. "Everybody needed to have the
same level of confidence."

Minnesota took the lead for good midway through the first
quarter and held a 55-50 halftime edge. Garnett and Wally
Szczerbiak scored six points each in a 20-4 run that opened the
second half and turned it into a rout.

One of the Wolves in double figures was guard Robert Pack, who
was signed Monday for the rest of the season. Pack immediately
was inserted as the backup point guard and had 12 points and
five assists in 21 minutes as the first player off the bench.

"Robert did a nice job of running the offense and picking his
spots," Saunders said. "Pack will play significant minutes.
He's a very good on-the-ball defender."

"I have been on teams with losing streaks where guys are
blaming each other and hanging their heads," Pack said. "I
never felt that coming in here. There was a lot of energy in
practice and guys being vocal. You usually have that when you
are on a winning streak, but these guys still had it when they
had lost seven straight."

As has been the pattern during their slide, the Raptors (30-38)
showed very little fight and fell four games behind Charlotte
in the race for the final playoff berth in the Eastern
Conference.

"Once it started to get away from us, I could see the
confidence level go down -- way down," Raptors coach Lenny
Wilkens said. "That's when you have to have some real resolve
about yourself."

Once again, one of the prime culprits was superstar Vince
Carter, who was held to 10 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Toronto
shot less than 39 percent (32-of-83).

"I'm disappointed and frustrated about a lot of things right
now," Carter said. "I just have to breathe and hope it gets
better soon -- in the near future, like tomorrow."

A 3-pointer by Chauncey Billups, who had 11 points and eight
assists, gave the Wolves the lead for good at 18-15 with 5:46
left in the first quarter. Minnesota held a 26-21 lead after
one quarter and a 55-50 advantage at halftime.

Garnett and Wally Szczerbiak scored six points each in the
burst that opened the third quarter. A jumper by Garnett made
it 75-54 with 3:50 remaining and put the Raptors on their heels.